9 Surprising Germ Havens

See where bacteria congregates in your home

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If you had to guess the germiest places in your home, you'd probably name the usual suspects, like the toilet and the trash can, right? True, but germs are sneaky, and experts say that some of the most surprising places in your house (hello, bath towels!) may be harboring harmful bacteria and viruses. Keep reading to find out where to find these germ hideaways and how to get rid of the offenders.

Germ Haven #1: Used Bath Towels
Do you share a bath towel with your hubby or kids? It may sound like a good idea, but health experts say it's a big no-no. "I remind my patients that even though it seems like sharing bath towels among family members is no big deal, and good for the environment, it's actually an unhealthy practice," says Susan C. Taylor, MD, community editor for BeWell.com.

"MRSA, a dangerous staph infection that is resistant to many antibiotics, can be spread by sharing towels with your husband, even your kids," she says. "Research also indicates that bacteria that can cause acne can also be spread among family members from towel sharing. It's also a good idea to replace hand towels in the bathroom frequently."

Germ Haven #2: Washing Machine
Your washing machine is where clothes get clean, right? Not always. According to Charles P. Gerba, PhD, of the University of Arizona Department of Soil, Water and Environmental Science, your laundry machine could be contaminating your clothing and linens.

Here's why: "The reason we have more viruses not being removed by laundry today is because 95 percent of Americans use cold-water washes with an average wash cycle of about 12 minutes," says Dr. Gerba. "Contrast this to European Miele washing machines, with 140-minute wash cycles and the ability to set the wash temperature to 180 degrees."

Want to zap the germs in your dirty clothes? Dr. Gerba recommends washing most loads in hot water. "Undergarments are the worst, and you should try to use bleach in these loads, otherwise they will contaminate the next load," he says.

Germ Haven #3: Computer Keyboard
You always wash your hands after using the bathroom, but do you do the same after touching your keyboard? Maybe you should, Dr. Gerba says: "There are about 200 times more bacteria on a keyboard than a toilet seat." The reason, he continues, "is that nobody ever cleans and disinfects a keyboard." And, he adds, the more users of the computer (think of the traffic your home computer gets between you, your husband and the kids), the more germs.

Keyboards can be breeding grounds for cold germs, flu viruses and bacteria that can cause diarrhea. Best bet: Keep your hands clean! Wash them before and after using the computer. Also, clean your keyboard every week by spraying disinfecting spray onto a cloth and lightly wiping it down.

Germ Haven #4: Carpets and Rugs
It's not exactly encouraging news: Experts say that most people's carpets and rugs contain a whopping 200,000 bacteria particles per square inch. In fact, Dr. Gerba's research has revealed that carpets in most homes are 4,000 times dirtier than toilet seats—toilet seats!

The solution? A vacuum with UV-light technology, like the Oreck Halo, could be a good option. These vacuums are believed to kill many bacteria, viruses and allergens on contact. But they're pricey. You can also use the vacuum you already have and consider going shoeless in your home. According to Elizabeth Scott, a germ expert and codirector of the Simmons College Center for Hygiene and Health in Home and Community Settings in Boston, one of the best ways to keep your carpets and floors germ-free is to kick off your shoes at the door. "You can bring pathogenic bacteria and mold spores into the home on the soles of shoes," she says.

Germ Haven #5: Beds
Think of all the things that happen in a bed: sleeping, having sex, eating (hey, nothing wrong with a snack!), nursing babies, cuddling sick children, changing diapers, staying home sick. That's why germ experts like Philip Tierno, MD, PhD, director of clinical microbiology at New York University Medical Center and author of The Secret Life of Germs, says your bed could be a veritable breeding ground for germs.

The solution? Invest in an impervious, water-repellent outer cover for mattresses and pillows, he says. This will prevent bacteria (and dust mites) from leaching in. Also, wash your sheets in hot water at least once a week.

Germ Haven #6: Salt and Pepper Shakers
According to a study by researchers at the University of Virginia, your salt and pepper shakers may be a breeding ground for germs. To see where cold and flu viruses like to congregate in homes, they tested various places that sick people touched in the home in an 18-hour period. Blame it on bland chicken soup, but salt and pepper shakers turned out to be one of the places with the highest concentrations for lingering viruses.

What to do: Clean frequently touched surfaces, including salt and pepper shakers, with disinfecting wipes.

Germ Haven #7: Bathtub
You take baths to destress, right? Then don't think about this the next time you're lounging in the tub: A recent study found the harmful bacteria staphylococcus in 26 percent of tested bathtubs. Worse: Whirlpool-style tubs, which some experts say may be bacterial breeding grounds due to the construction of the pipes, seem to be the biggest culprits. A study by scientists at Texas A&M University that examined water samples from 43 whirlpool tubs found that all had dangerous bacterial growth—from fecal matter to fungi.

Keep germs at bay by regularly cleaning your bathtub with a bleach-based cleaner. Whirlpool owners should consider having a professional maintenance person assist in cleaning dirty pipes.

In fact, research has found that children's potty chairs rank among the germiest places in the home. What's worse? Children and parents often spread bacteria from potty chairs and seats to other surfaces in the house. "This indicates the potential for spread of fecal pathogens," explains Scott.

What to do? Wash your hands after helping your child use the potty chair, and teach him to do the same after he's finished. And don't forget to clean his chair frequently with disinfecting spray (no, a quick wipe-down with a baby wipe is not going to kill germs).

Germ Haven #9: Refrigerator
"The biggest misconception about refrigerators," says Donna Duberg, MA, MS, assistant professor of clinical laboratory science at Saint Louis University, "is that bacteria doesn't grow in cold temperatures." Unfortunately, she says, that's just not true. Consider the package of chicken that may have leaked on top of your yogurt lid or the unwashed vegetables that are sitting next to the kids' juice boxes. The germs found inside a refrigerator can make you sick.

But you can fight back: Take her advice and do a weekly fridge wipe-down and a once-a-month deep clean where you take everything out, toss any spoiled food, wipe down all surfaces and scrub removable shelves in sudsy hot water.

Sarah Jio is the health and fitness blogger for Glamour.com. Visit her blog, Vitamin G.